How To Celebrate Ferragosto Italy's National Summer Holiday

Ferragosto is an Italian national holiday that takes place on August 15th each year and is anticipated months in advance. It has been celebrated since the time of Emperor Augustus, and since Christianity came to Italy, it has coincided with Assumption Day, a Catholic holiday. Ferragosto signals the peak of summer, and sees most Italians headed to the beach or countryside for some much sought-after time off work and a chance to relax in the company of family and friends.

Feriae Augusti

The holiday takes its name from the Latin Feriae Augusti or ‘Holidays of Emperor Augustus,’ who introduced them to the Roman Empire in 18 BCE. Succeeding earlier ancient Roman festivals such as the Vinalia (wine harvest) and Consualia (grain harvest), the Ferragosto holiday period provided a time to rest after weeks of hard labor. The holiday was originally celebrated with horse races across the Empire, the most famous of which remains the Palio di Siena on August 16. With the arrival of Christianity, Ferragosto came to fall on the same day as the Assumption of Mary, an important Catholic feast day that celebrates the Virgin Mary’s ascent into Heaven.

Seasonal travel: a recent trend

The bright side

Ferragosto is a holiday with mixed reactions. For many, it marks the height of summer vacation and is embraced as an opportunity to disconnect from work and recharge – often for weeks at a time, if not for the whole month of August. Italians, who tend to have homes outside of the city, flock to the seaside or the country for their eagerly awaited vacation. It is a chance to spend extended periods of time with loved ones and family, or to take long-term trips abroad that would be difficult to schedule during any other time of the year.

Summer standstill

For others, Ferragosto brings with it a sense of dread. The beaches are packed, prices for seaside accommodations skyrocket and those with no holiday plans can’t help but suffer from FOMO. The majority of businesses are shuttered as most employees are on leave, and it is considered a stagnant month while many things remain on hold. ‘Chiuso Per Ferie’ (‘Closed for the holidays’) signs are ubiquitous and city centers empty out.

However, some of these trends are slowly changing. Due to the economic downturn and increasingly globalized operations, some private entities continue to operate during the summer. Harnessing the profitable opportunity, more and more restaurants in major cities remain open for tourists. For most Italians though, normal life doesn’t resume until early September.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.